Mark Richardson, co-owner of the Panthers and board member at Clemson University, talks about concussions, Panthers ownership plans, protesters, Cam, and Clemson football after speaking at the Anderson Touchdown Club.
Ken Ruinard/Independent Mail

For years, my teammates and I played football as hard as we could to make Mississippi State proud. But today, facing serious health issues, I wonder if we played too hard. I wish that the NCAA had told us about, and helped protect us from, the risk of traumatic brain injury while playing football.

As devoted student athletes, at the time we were simply focused on winning games for our coaches, school and fans. We gave college football everything we had to give, which meant taking a lot of hard hits to the head. In fact, we were taught to lead with our heads because the head was apparently the strongest part of our body. Although no one told us, it turns out that those hits have long-term health consequences.

During my time playing as a cornerback from 1974 to 1978, I suffered seven severe concussions. In fact, I remember being knocked out a few times and the painful, tingling sensations that would travel through my neck, shoulders and head. But no matter how my teammates or I felt after a hard hit, we knew that we couldn’t sit out a game or practice. We simply sucked it up and got back on the football field as soon as we could see straight.

The NCAA didn’t have any guidelines in place at the time to protect players from the health risks of these big hits. The only “treatment” we ever received after a big hit or a possible concussion was an ice pack on the neck for a few minutes before going back into the game. Sometimes there would be a light test the following day before the coaches would simply clear players for practice.

Most of the health problems football players suffer as a result of these big hits, and lack of treatment, happen after leaving college. For me, it was fits of rage, panic attacks and severe headaches. Ultimately, I was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Being a young guy, I felt like my life was slipping away from me. There’s no doubt in my mind that these health problems are a direct result of the repeated blows to the head I suffered during college football.

The NCAA is primarily responsible for the health problems that former college football players like me suffer. Despite being the nationwide authority on college football, the NCAA ignored the risk of concussions and traumatic brain injuries for years. Even while their own member institutions were leading research on the long-term health effects of repeated head impacts, the NCAA completely failed to educate and protect student athletes. The NCAA was founded to look out for the health and safety of student athletes, but they didn’t do anything to prevent traumatic brain injuries.

That’s why I am joining many other former student athletes in a class action lawsuit to hold the NCAA accountable for their failures. Many former players now need financial support to deal with the health issues resulting from the injuries they suffered in college. And, most importantly, many of us feel strongly that it’s time for the NCAA to make football safer. Hopefully this lawsuit will force the NCAA to change its ways.

It’s been almost 40 years since I was a Bulldog, but the consequences of playing college football remain with me to this day. Although I’ve been asked to return for Mississippi State football games, I haven’t been back to a game in 14 years. I’m afraid that I would get too emotional watching current Bulldogs play the game I love, and knowing the health problems they could have in the future. Of all the effects of my concussions, not being able to participate in the sport that was such a big part of my life is one of the worst.

My hope is that this lawsuit will force the NCAA to improve its concussion protocol and help educate players about the long-term effects of hits to the head. Maybe then I will be able to return to watching and cheering for the sport that I love.

Henry Davison played cornerback for Mississippi State University Bulldogs from 1974 to 1978. He currently lives in Alabama.